Conveyer and transfer apparatus for the drying of leather



Feb. 2, 1954 J. c. TUSTING ET AL CONVEYER AND TRANSFER APPARATUS FOR THE DRYING OF LEATHER 11 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 19, 1950 INVENTORS \TOH/Y CHARLES TUSTING AND GEORGE OI/[RSTALL ATTOR NE VS Feb. 2, 1954 .1. c. TUSTING ETAL ,6 7, 8

CONVEYER AND TRANSFER APPARATUS FOR THE DRYING 0F LEATHER Filed June 19, 1950 ll Sheets-Sheet 2 JOHN CHARLES TUS'T/IVG A/w G[0RG[ UVFRS'TALL A T TOR NE YS Feb. 2, 1954 I J. c. TUSTING ETAL 2,

CONVEYER AND. TRANSFER APPARATUS FOR THE DRYING OF LEATHER Filed June 19, 1950 11 Sheets-Sheet 3 J'OHN GHARLES- rusrmam GEORGE 0VRSTALL Feb. 2, 1954 J. c. TUSTlNG ET AL ,6 7,9

CONVEYER AND TRANSFER APPARATUS FOR THE DRYING OF LEATHER Filed June 19, 1950 ll Sheets-Sheet 4 R R s Q R v;

n A I :k l \L i Q u mm cHARZ E S fi s T/NG m amazamesmu arranusvs 1954 .1. c. TUSTlNG ETAL I 2,667,981

CONVEYER AND TRANSFER APPARATUS FOR THE DRYING OF LEATHER Filed June 19, 1950 ll Shee ts-Sheet 5 INVE/V TORS [roll/v (f/ARMS TUSTI/VG m GEORG ovmsmu ATTORNEYS Feb. 2, 1954 c. TUSTING ET AL CONVEYER AND TRANS FER APPARATUS FOR THE DRYING 0F LEATHER Filed June 19, 1950 ll SheetsSheet 6 Feb. 2, 1954 J. c. TUSTING ETAL 2,667,981

CONVEYER AND TRANSFER APPARATUS FOR THE DRYING OF LEATHER JOHN CHARLES TUSTING m GMRGE OYHQSTALL ATTORNEYS Feb. 2, 1954 J. c. TUSTING ETAL CONVEYER AND TRANSFER APPARATUS FOR THE DRYING OF LEATHER 11 Sheets-Sheet-8 Filed June 19, 1950 FIG A INVENTORS JOHN CHARLES HIST/1V6 ANO @[flRGf 0VR5TALL 1954 J. c. TUSTING ETAL 2,667,981

CONVEYER AND TRANSFER APPARATUS FOR THE DRYING 0F LEATHER Filed June 19, 1950 ll Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTORS J'OH/V CHARLES TUSTI/YG am/wrovmsmu ATTORNEYS Feb. 2, 1954 J. c. TUSTING ETAL 2,667,

CONVEYER AND TRANSFER APPARATUS FOR THE DRYING OF LEATHER Filed June 19,- 1950 ll Sheets-Sheet l0 e FIG/l.

gp'i 67 FIG/J.

r IIYYENTORS J'OHN 014M155 TUSTIIIG m' GEORGE OVZ'RSTALL.

ATTORNEYJ Feb. 2, 1954 J. c. TUSTING ETAL 2,667,

CONVEYER AND TRANSFER APPARATUS FOR THE DRYING 0F LEATHER Filed June 19, 1950 11 Sheets-Sheet 11 mvnvrans IOH/V CHAR! F8 T115 Tl/YG m @[URGf 0Vf/QS 7/)! L ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 2, 1954 CONVEYER AND TRANSFER APPARATUS FOR THE DRYING OF LEATHER John Charles Tusting, Harrold, Bedford, and

George Overstall, Stubbins, Ramsbottom, England Application June 19, 1950, Serial No. 168,868

Claims priority, application Great Britain June 24, 1949 Claims.

This invention relates to the drying of leather, and more especially to the drying of hides or skins (all hereinafter, for convenience of de scription only, included in the term skin or skins) during the conventional processing of same subsequent to tannage, and has for its object to provide apparatus which is continuous in operation and in the working thereof to confine manual labour solely to the attachment of wet, and removal of dry, skins from carrier panels or frames.

Hitherto, in the drying of skins, so far as we are aware, it has been customary for wet skins carried on panels or frames to proceed by mechanical actuation through a drying chamber, the removal of each panel, in turn, from said chamber-for the purpose of stripping a dry skin therefrom and reloading with a wet skin-and subsequent return of the panel to the chamber has been effected by hand, with consequential wasteful expenditure of time and labour.

Leather drying apparatus, according to our invention, broadly comprises a drying chamber; a conveyor within said chamber adapted for continuous movement therethrough at required speed whereby panels or frames loaded with skins are propelled through the chamber for drying; a second conveyor which is external to said drying chamber in its longitudinal run, but passes transversely through each end of the chamber, and which is adapted for automatically controlled intermittent movement; means at an end-hereinafter referred to as the unloading end-of said chamber whereby panels, carrying dried skins, are transferred automatically, one at a time, from the internal to the external conveyor; and similar means at the other end (hereinafter referred to as the loading end) of said chamber whereby panels which have been hand stripped of dried skins and reloaded with wet skins are transferred automatically from said external conveyor onto the internal conveyor.

It is preferred to use carrier panels of glass whereto wet skins may be attached by a suitable adhesive, but other types of carrier means, such, for example, as wire-mesh frames to which the skins are secured by toggles, may be utilized if desired.

According to one mode of carrying out our invention, each panel is flexibly suspended from a main overhead bar or pole associated through links and secondary suspension bars with clamps having bolt connections through bolt holes provided adjacent the top edge of the panel. Said main suspension bar is provided with flanged runners adapted to engage and travel on a pair of track rails disposed one at each side of the drying chamber, which latter is a steel-framed structure of substantially rectangular cross section, the side, end, and top walls whereof are panelled with insulating material. An endless chain supported on end sprockets and intermediate tracks runs along each interior side of said chamber and at regular intervals is provided with projecting horns, or other attachments, adapted to engage with the ends of said main panelsuspension bars and thus draw or propel said panels through the chamber on the before mentioned runners. Heated, and preferably condi tioned, air is circulated through the drying chamber by means of appropriately positioned fans. Said external conveyor consists of an overhead runway wherefrom is suspended an endless chain fitted with spaced pairs of carrier hooks adapted to receive and hold a main panelsuspension bar.

The cycle of operations of said apparatus, is such that a panel with wet skins is transferred at the loading end from the external conveyor into the drying chamber at the same time as a panel with dry skins is transferred at the unloading end from the drying chamber to the external conveyor, the latter becoming stationary to permit of the transferring operation, and

there is thus obtained a continuous motion through the drying chamber, and a synchronised intermittent motion of the external conveyor which results in each panel in turn emerging from the chamber at the unloading end for the manual operation of the stripping therefrom of dry skins and the re-loading with wet skins, and the subsequent re-transfer of each panel into said chamber at the opposite or loading end, all

. operations being carried out automatically.

We will further describe our invention with the aid of the accompanying sheets of-more or less diagrammatic-drawings which illustrate, by way of example only and not of limitation, one mode of embodying same.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1a illustrates in plan view the loading end of the apparatus.

Fig. 1b is a plan view of the medial section thereof. a

Fig. 1c is a plan viewof the opposite or un loading end and when these three views are combined together they illustrate in plan view the complete apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the loading end of the apparatus, and

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of its unloading end.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken as on line A-A, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 isean ielevationof the-filoading'. end of the apparatus, showing i the means for transferring panels from the external conveyor onto the internal conveyor.

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevation of the means for operating the sliding doors of the dryerydrawnto an enlarged scale as comparedwith the,.preceding views. 7

Fig. 8 is a View taken at right angles to Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a part longitudinalsection-ofthe apparatus, showing details of .thegpaneltransfer means at the unloading end of the drying chamber.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view showing the switching arrangement at the loading end of the drying chamber.

Fig. 12 is aview taken at-rightangles toFig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a plan view of Fig. 11.

I-n the-various views parts have been omitted or broken away where necessary -irr order to provide 'forclear understanding of the invention.

"Referring now to said draw ingsglujdenotes a drying 'chamben-of steel -frame'd construction, 'side end, and -top-walls-whereof are panelled withinsulating material; and I I, I I are-a pairof track rails, disposed one at-each-"interior-side of-said chamber. An endless ohain I2, supported ateach-end on sprocket wheels I3- whereby-it is "driven, runs along each interior sideor chamber Hiadjacent a track rail I I and is provided at regular intervals with proiecting horn attachments generally-designated 44: jo'ckeywheels l5 and tensioning gear I e-a-re provided in respect of each chain I2, on its-returner non-'working'run. An over-hea'd runway I? runs externally along both sides of chamber I B and passes through-each end of: same asmost olearly shownin -Fig. l; and suspended from said runway by' brackets I 8 :with runners I9" is-an endless chain 20, (the 'run of whichis indicated in-Fig.-1,"-bya chain-dot line) Jockey'wheels 12I carriedbyrails 22 areprovided together-with a guide rail'22 at each endto guide the-chain in its travel into and out ofthe respective ends of chamber It, and, on the opposite side gofthe chambenchain 2!! passes around driving sprockets 23, 23 disposed one: adjacent each end ofchamber I U, and around-diversion wheels 5 24 and tensioning gear 25.

Mounted, in this instance, above "dryingchamher Iii on the roof thereof, is-an-electric -motor 25 which is coupled medially,- throu'gh =a--=mu1tibelt drive 2?; to a main transmission shaft 28 supported longitudinally above chamber In in bearings 29; and each'end-of shaft28 'drivesa horizontal cross shaft 30-through worm reduction gear 3|.

Considering now -one 'end of the apparatus -on'ly'tl'ze' other end-being identical but for "certain exceptions which -are hereinafter described one end of cross-shaft 39 is arrangedto drive,

through bevel wheels "32333 a vertical shaft 36 and extendsoutwardly from 'each' side of same.-.

stub shaft'88, 38 'aredriven-by shaftt'l through Spur-gearsBS, 40; and 39 48 respectively; and mounted on the inner ends of stub shafts 38f38 are the before referred todriv'ing sprockets I3 the other end of said cross shaft 30 is taken through a magnetic clutch 4| to a horizontal shaft 42 via sprockets 43, 44 and driving chain 65, :said shaf.ts-. -42 drivingtthrough bevel gears 5 46ft? ontoaa vertical shaftlAB: the latter carries driving sprocket 23 of the external runway chain 524 It will be seen from the foregoing that there is a constant drive from the motor 26 to the in- Htern'al: conveyor 'chains I2 of the drying chamher;- but that the drive from motor 26, to the external conveyor chain 20 may be interrupted by means. .of. .clutches a 4 I Also driven constantly by motor 26 via crossshaft 30 are stub shafts 49, 49 the drive in this '15 instancebeing through spur wheels 50, 5S keyed etc the vbefore.c'mentioned through shaft 31, and spur wheels 5|, 5| carried by stub shafts 39, 49 respectively; the latter extend within chamber-m'and each has secured thereto a transfer arm 52 whereto is pivotally secured a cup-like .memberfifiz Z-Eachzcup member tiz is." connected by aarod 53; to.:one=.endsofnan arm-M whichis'pivoted;at 54 and=carries-at its end-remotev from rod 53 ac-counterba'lance weights-55.

-: Secured-to oertain'pairsof suspension brackets 18 of. the outer'rumvayehain are pendant carrier hooks 56::adapted to receive mainsuspension-bars 51. carrying panels rl58,in this instance made 'of glass-whereto skinsvto bendriedareaifixed for a drying operation. eE-achglasspanel-EB is" flexibly suspended to its respective bar- 51 by the aid of four clamp "members-fierwhich are spacedly connectedrw ith.theypanelzby bolts (not-shown) 1 :passing: through :boltrholes: :provided therein adj acent' its.:upper edge; two secondary suspension bars 66, and tW0i1iI1kSf.6|;-I3,S1Sl-IOWI1. -Flanged runners 62 :are rotatablyzwmountedwat each end ofbar. 5?, beingspaced-vone; from' the: otherzin accordance with the distance ibetweeni'trackrrails ii of the .40 idryingzchamberiland the ends ofbar- 5'! project for-:a-fshortdistancezbeyond said runners 62 for engagementwhen*rthepanel"is within the drying schamber with"therhorns- I4= of conveyor chain: E2.

. In operatiomiamd: apart from. the initial starting up and :loading 10f the "apparatus, drying chamber It :.:is i filled awith :panels :53: suspended from-.theinbars 5l,:'-which;;in"turn, are supported :by.runnersffizionitracks II, and-horns Hi aredis- :posed between eachtadjacent pairr of bars '57 to 'propel the panels "slowly and continuously through the chamber. .The. spacing betweenzsaid *panelsiaisassclose as is: commensurate withthe efiicient circulation :of heated and "preferably conditioned airzsuppliedtothe chamber through 'armainziductwfi? (Figs-I4) by" conventional or other means. f

' -With skins pastect thereontoxinknown manner, :panels :58 :are propelled :continuously through chamber I data. speed determined-by the speed 'o'ftmotori. 35 andpthe :ratios of the intermediate gears "between thecrlrivingr :pulley of said "motor and, the drivin'gisprocketsi I3 of conveyor chains -I.2-;Which ensures :that the time taken for a .panel-tomove'thronglr chamber I'll from. the loading endtto thelmloadingten'diis sufficient for the skins zattachedxto said'gpaneli to be dried; and as each'panel, in turn, arrives at the unloading end (Fig.;l0) :"itsisuspension::bari5'! moves clear of horns t4 .ofithe conveyorichains I2, and runners '62 thereof move: down shallow ramped portions -Il zof tracks'I'I until they rest'against stops H formed -at the end of -saidztracks' I I. Said stops 7 1 I l locate bar iil in exact position for. picking up for internal conveyor chains I2. Thed'rive' from by: cup-like. members-52 onsarms...52.

In order to prevent uncontrolled gravitational movement of a suspended panel when its runners reach ramped portions I l of tracks 6 i, there is provided, in respect of each track, and arm t4 pivoted at E i to said track and supported adjacent its free end by the plunger 65 of a hydraulic shock absorber or dash-pot 65. Thus, as runners 52 of each panel reach the ramped portions of tracks H they bear upon said arms M which move downward against the retarding influence of plungers 65 and panel suspension bar 51 abuts gently on the horn attachments is immediately in front of it. As chains I2 move over sprockets i3, said horns M exert a retarding influence upon the suspended panel, and runners 62 thereof come to rest without shock against the runners 62 of the preceding panel which are in abutment with stop portions li of tracks H in take-off position.

Transfer arms 52 are arranged to make one revolution in the time taken for the loaded panels to move through chamber Hi a distance equal to the spacing between said panels, and the angular position of said arms 52 on stub shafts 49,, 49 is such that, as each panel reaches the take-off position, cups 52 of said arms engage with the ends of the adjacent panel suspension bar and as said arms 52 continue to revolve, the panel is lifted-the load being in part counterbalanced by weights 55clear of tracks l i, as indicated by broken line in line Fig. 10, for transference to a pair of hooks 56 of runway 51; it being arrangedthrough disengagement of clutches 4] by the means hereinafter describedfor external runway chain 29 to be stationary with a pair of hooks 56 suitably positioned whilst the transfer operation is carried out. During the lifting of each panel 58 from tracks i i, channelled spacing attachments 52* secured to cups 52 engage the runners 62 of the following panel and retard their run to takeoff position. When the transfer is complete, clutches ii are re-engaged, chain 2% commences to move, and the transferred panel moves out of drying chamber It and commences its journey towards the loading end of the drying chamber. Runway chain 28 again becomes stationary with another pair of hooks 56 in position to receive the suspension bar 5'! of the panel transferred from track i l by the next revolution of transfer arms 52, and whilst this transfer operation is taking place the stripping of dry skins from the preceding panel is effected by hand. The chain 23 again starts up and stops with a third pair of hooks 56 in position to receive a loaded panel from chamber l8, and during this stopping period dry skins are stripped from the second-mentioned panel whilst the first mentioned panel-which has, in the meantime, passed through a conventional or other washing machine 65 (Fig. 1)-is being manually re-loaded with wet skins in known manner. 1

Each time external conveyor chain 2!] stops, a re-loaded panel is positioned at the loading end of chamber as for transfer from hooks 55 onto tracks I l by the adjacent transfer arms 52 which are rotating in unison with the arms 52 at the unloading end of the chamber, and thus each time a panel loaded with dried skins is transferred from tracks I i to the external runway ii, a panel re-loaded with wet skins is simultaneously transferred from external runway i'l, onto tracks i I to commence its journey through drying chamber iii. 7

It will be seen that at all times during normal operation of the apparatus, chamber [0 will be full of loaded panels which are in continuous movement therethrough, and that at any given stopping period of the external conveyor chain 29 there will be (a) one panel in the process of being transferred from runway IT to tracks H; (b) one panel being transferred from tracks II onto runway H; (0) one panel (having just emerged from chamber [0) being stripped of its dry skins preparatory to its passing through a washer 66 on the next starting up of the chain 20; (11) one or more panels, according to the length of the drying chamber, in positions where wet skins may be attached thereto; and (e) one re-loaded panel waiting to enter chamber I9.

Referring now to the means whereby is effected controlled stopping and starting of conveyor chain 20, this is achieved with the aid of appropriate electrical circuits and a number of electrical switches controlling same, the dispositions of said switches being diagrammatically illustrated in Figs. 11, 12 and 13. Three of said switches a, b and c are adapted for actuation by a cam 61 which is rotated continuously with and at the same speed as the transfer arms 52, and the remaining switches, d, e, f and y are controlled by the movement of the external conveyor chain 20.

Said cam 61 is mounted on a shaft 68 journalled in a bracket frame 69 adjacent (in this instance) to the top of chamber 18, and shaft 68 is driven from shaft 31 by means of a driving chain iii running on a sprocket H of shaft 68 and a sprocket 12 of shaft 31.

Switches 6, i and g are actuated by direct contact with projections or tappets 13, one of which latter is secured to chain 2! somewhat in advance-With relation to the direction of movement of chain ZED-of each pair of hooks 55; and switch it is actuated by a spring loaded stopplate M which is normally positioned in the path (see more particularly Fig. 12) of runners 62.

The functions of the various switches are as follows:

Switch (1 causes a, reduction in speed of motor 26 (if it is running above minimum speed) prior to the starting up of external conveyor chain 26.

Switch 1) starts up conveyor chain 29 by completing an electrical circuit which energises clutches 4i.

Switches 0 and d work in conjunction with each other and closure of either or both will maintain the circuit of the main electricity supply to motor 26; thus, when switch 0 is open switch 01 must be closed, and vice versa, otherwise motor 25 stops and the whole apparatus becomes stationary.

Switch e reduces the speed of motor 25 (if it is running above minimum speed) prior to conveyor chain 20 stopping.

Switch f stops conveyor chain Zil'by causing de-energisation of clutches M.

Switch g is a safety switch which stops motor 25, and so the whole apparatus, in the event of switch 7 failing to operate.

Considering a typical cycle of events commencing with a panel 55 just entering chamber 1%], for example as illustrated in Fig. 11, a tappet 53 first contacts switch e and, by reducing i. e. short circuiting the resistance in the motors field circuit slows down the speed of motor 25 and thus the rate of movement of the whole apparatus, and said panel 58 arrives in position for transfer to tracks II at slow speed, whereupon tappet l3 contactsv switch 4 f, clutches 4! are deenergised; and conveyor-chain stops.

I Switch 1 is double acting and also causes motor to accelerate to normal working speed. In the meantime'the adjacent runner:52 of the panel suspension barb? has contactedstopeplate i4 and switch dis closed. Immediately after the instant when closure of switch'd should occur, switch c-is'opened by cam-Sl-so that, if apanel is misplaced on carrier hooks :Efifor any reason and is not in a position tobe picked up by transfer arms 52, the consequent failure: of switch at to close causes stoppage of the whole apparatus and consequently damage is avoided. When panel ESis lifted clear of hooks '58, stop-plate '14 returns under the influence of its spring loadingto normal position andswitch d is'opened, whilst switch c closes to maintain the motor circuit.

When the panel in question :hasbeen transferred onto track rails H of Chamber? (and a panel has simultaneously: been transferred onto runway ll from the unload-ingendof chamber 56) switch a, actuated 'bycam E57, reduces'the motor speed, switch '2) energises clutches ii to start up'conveyor chain 20; and thereafter causes acceleration of the motor to normal running speed by means of suitable automatic control anparatus asformerly. The contacts of an electrical relay (not shown) shortcut switch 9 whilst tappet 13 passes over same in'normal running.

In order to conserve the supply of hot air introduced into chamber it, the door apertures at the loading and unloading ends of chamber iii areias narrow as 'possible'commensurate with the safe'entry' and exit intoandout of said chambers. of panels 58, for example as indicated at w Fig. 2; vbut,.in order to enhance the eiliciency of the apparatus, sliding doors are preferably fitted at each end of'the chamber which'doors open and close automatically to permit entry and exit of the panels. In Figs. '7; Sand 9 which illustrate a convenient method of achieving this end, 75 indicates the door at the unloading end of the drying chamber Hi (the door at the loading end being similarly. constructed and operated) which is slidable to closed and open positions on a track 75 Mounted on a framework 16 in bearing plates 16 and just above door 15, is a. vertical shaft 1! which carries'at its lower end a sprocket E3 disposed so'as to be inoperative engagement with conveyor chainiall'as' it passes through the end of chamber H3. A spur pinion i9 keyed to shaft 7? just below frame 75 is in mesh with a spur gear Bi: whiclrhas formed inits upper face a cam slot 8|, and engaged within said cam slot 8! is a follower B2 securedrmedially to a lever 83 pivotted at afi 'and carrying 'at its outer end a toothed quadrant 83 Thexlatter meshes with a pinion 84 keyed'to a; shaft which also carries a rack wheel 88, and the-latter is operatively engaged with a rack 81- secured to the upper part of sliding door '55. 7

It is arranged for spurgear-iiil-to make one complete revolution. during each period that the conveyor chain 20 is in motion, and the contouring of camsiot 8! is such that, through the movement of quadrant 83, door 15 opens to permit a panel 58 to emerge from chamber it and shuts immediately said panel is clearer the door opening. In similar mannerfthe door at the loading end of chamber in is arranged to open just prior to a panel commencing to'enter the chamber,

to shut immediately it is inside.

Hardwood orotherfendersor guides 88 (Fig. 2) .are; provided-to engage the :lower *edges :of panels 58 'during'their external run, and thus prevent untoward swinging of same during the pasting on of wet skins.

The referred to washer 66 includes water sprays (preferably hot) and revolving brushes for both sides of a panel, the water supply being controlled by the movement of conveyor chain 29.

Any suitablepower unit or units other than that described maybe employed to operate the apparatus; and any system of transmission-gearing maybe employed to achieve the required conveyor speeds and timing.

Means for altering theispeeds of the internal and external conveyors'may also be provided whereby loading and transfer times can be readily varied.

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters. Patent'is:

1. Dryingapparatus -comprising in combination an enclosed drying chamber having opposite loading and unloading openings communicating therewith, a plurality of panels upon which articles to be dried are carried, a conveyor mounted within said chamber whereby said panels may be continuously conveyed from the'loading to the unloading openings of said chambena second conveyor for conveyingsaid panels externally of the chamber from'the unloading opening to the loading opening of said chamber, means whereby saidsecond conveyor may pass through the loading and unloading openings of said chamber, means for automatically transferring said panels individually to and from. said conveyors, and means for transmitting anintermittent motion to said second conveyor whereby the latter may remain at rest during the individual transfer'of said panels to and from said conveyor; said apparatus being operable by an electric motor which is arranged to drive a transmission shaft disposed longitudinally above the drying chamber, each end of said shaft being coupled through reduction gearing to a cross shaft, one end of each .cross shaft driving said first conveyor and the panel transfer means, and the other end of each cross shaft driving the second conveyor through a. clutch of electro-ma,,- netic type energization of which to start up said second conveyor is effected .by means of an electric switch operable .bya cam arranged to .move in synchronism with said panel transfer means.

2. Drying apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein. de energisation of said electro-inagnetic 'clutch to stop said second conveyor is eiiected by an electric switch operable by a tappet projection of said-second conveyor each time a panel arrives in correct position for transferfrom said-second conveyor to said first conveyor.

3. Drying apparatus as claimed in'claim 1 wherein de-energisation. of said electro-magnetic clutch to stop said second conveyor is effected by anelectric switch operable bya tappet projection of said second conveyor each time. a panel arrives in correct positionfor transfer from said second conveyor to said. first conveyor, and wherein .is included means for reducing the speed of said motor prior to each stopping of said second conveyorymeans for increasing the speed of said'motor after stopping said second conveyor, means whereby the speed is reduced prior to each starting:up :of said second conveyor,

' 9 and means for increasing the speed after starting up of said second conveyor.

4. Apparatus for the drying of leather, hides, skins and the like, comprising a drying chamber, a .pair of track rails, a conveyor adapted for continuous movement through said drying chamber, an endless chain with horn attachments at regular intervals in respect of each track rail included in said conveyor, a plurality of panels for carrying skins to be dried, a suspension bar for each panel, runners whereby said suspension bars are supportable on said track rails, a second conveyor external to said drying chamber in its longitudinal run but passing transversely through each end of said chamber, an endless chain included in said second conveyor adapted for automatically controlled intermittent movement, spaced carrier hooks fitted to said endless chain of said second conveyor for engaging said panel suspension bars, a pair of transfer arms spaced apart and rotatable at required speed at one end of the chamber, cup members provided at the outer ends of said arms for engaging the ends of the panels suspension bars in their path and automatically transferring panels carrying dried skins from the internal to the external conveyor, and a similar pair of transfer arms at the other end of said drying chamber for automatically transferring from the external to the internal conveyor panels which have been stripped of dried skins and loaded with wet skins; said apparatus being operable by an electric motor which is arranged to drive a transmission shaft disposed longitudinally above the drying chamber, each end of said shaft being coupled through reduction gearing to a cross-shaft, one end of each cross shaft driving the endless chains of the internal conveyor and the transfer arms, and the other end of each cross shaft driving the external conveyor chain through a clutch of electric-magnetic type energization of which to start up said external conveyor chain is effected by means of an electric switch operable by a cam arranged to rotate at the same speed as said transfer arms.

5. Apparatus for the drying of leather, hides, skins and the like, as claimed in claim 4, wherein de-energisation of said clutches to stop the external conveyor chain is effected by an electric switch operable by a tappet projection of the external runway chain each time a panel arrives in correct position for transfer from the external conveyor to the internal conveyor.

6. Apparatus for the drying of leather, hides, skins and the like, as claimed in claim 4, wherein de-energisation of said clutches to stop the external conveyor chain is effected by an electric switch operable by tappet projections of the external runway chain, and wherein is included means for reducing the speed of said motor prior to each stopping of the external conveyor chain, means for increasing the speed of said motor to normal after stopping of said external conveyor chain, means whereby the speed of said motor is reduced prior to each starting up of the external conveyor chain, and means for increasing the speed to normal after starting up of said conveyor chain.

'7. Apparatus for the drying of leather, hides, skins and the like, as claimed in claim 4, wherein de-energisation of said clutches to stop the external conveyor chain is effected by an electric switch operable by tappet projections of the external runway chain; and wherein is included an electric switch operable by a tappet projection of the runway chain whereby the speed of the electric motor is reduced prior to stopping of the external conveyor chain, an electric switch whereby the speed of the motor is increased to normal after the stoppage of said conveyor chain, an electric switch operable by said cam whereby the speed of the motor is reduced prior to each starting up of said conveyor chain and whereby the speed of the motor is increased to normal after starting of said conveyor chain.

8. Apparatus for the drying of leather, hides, skins and the like, as claimed in claim 4, wherein de-energisation of said clutches to stop the external conveyor chain is efiected by an electric switch operable by tappet projections of the external conveyor chain; and wherein is included an electric switch operable by a tappet projection of the external conveyor chain whereby the speed of the electric motor is reduced prior to stopping of the external conveyor chain, an electric switch whereby the speed of the motor is increased to normal after the stoppage of said conveyor chain, an electric switch operable by said cam whereby the speed of the motor is reduced prior to each starting up of said conveyor chain and whereby the speed of the motor is increased to normal after starting of said conveyor chain, an electric switch adapted to be closed through the movement of a spring loaded stop plate which is contacted by the runner of a panel suspension bar when the latter is in correct position for take 01f by the transfer arm, an electric switch adapted to be maintained open by said rotating cam during the time said last mentioned switch is normally closed and either one of said last two switches when closed being capable of maintaining the main power circuit of the electric motor closed.

9. Apparatus for the drying of leather, hides, skins and the like, as claimed in claim 4, wherein de-energisation of said clutches to stop said external conveyor chain is effected by an electric switch operable by tappet projections of the external conveyor chain, and wherein is included means for reducing the speed of the motor prior to each starting and stopping of the external conveyor chain, means for increasing the speed of said motor to normal after each starting and stopping of the external conveyor chain, a safety switch operable by tappets of the external chain whereby said motor is stopped in the event of said external conveyor chain failing to stop in correct position for panels to be transferred from one conveyor to the other, and a switch whereby said safety switch is rendered inoperative during normal operation of said external conveyor.

10. Drying apparatus comprising in combination an enclosed drying chamber having opposite loading and unloading openings communicating therewith, a sliding door for each opening of said drying chamber, a plurality of panels upon which articles to be dried are carried, a conveyor mounted within said chamber whereby said panels may be continuously conveyed from the loading to the unloading openings of said chamber, a second conveyor for conveying said panels externally of the chamber from the unloading opening to the loading opening of said chamber, means for automatically transferring said panels individually to and from said conveyors, means for transmitting an intermittent motion to said second conveyor whereby the latter may remain at rest during the individual transfer of said panels to and from said conveyor, and means operable by said second conveyor whereby the amazes;

1iding .:doors may.be openedi'andmlosed to .per-

mit entry:andlex-ittof-said pane1s.-to ancLsfrom fer means, amizlthe Dtherendof geach cross shaft 10 driving theqseoondgjconveyor; through a. clutch 0f; le fe-ma netie;typeeenergisation of which to,start'upeaidxsecond conveyor iseffectedby meaneoiamelentrieewitch operableby a camarranfi er m anse JOHNICHARLESITUSTING'." GEQRGE OVERSTALL.

ranged to mevetin, synohronism with asaidpanel 15 References Cited imthe-gzfile" ofithis patent UNITED *STATES PATENTS Number Name.v Date. Wigglesworth. Dec. 22,- 1925 McDavitt July 10, .1928 Hamel Y V Nov. 3,.1931 Baker V v Dec. 22,1 1931 Gordon,.. Dec. 28,1193? Grifiin et a1; NOV. 22,1949 

